The Council of State, at an emergency meeting in Abuja last week, issued a December 2014 deadline for the end of terrorism in the country. The august body also resolved to bar states from discriminatory and unhealthy practices such as the registration and “deportation” of non-indigenes, and differential school fees for indigenes and non-indigenes in state-owned institutions.
Although the council’s intervention in some of these vexatious issues that are undermining the nation’s unity is somewhat belated, it is better late than never. It is good that the council has stepped into these controversial issues to ensure peace and harmony in the country.
We must, however, note that the December deadline on insurgency will not achieve anything unless concerted efforts are made by all Nigerians to end the onslaught of the militants.The government and security agencies need the support of all stakeholders to achieve the desired result.
It will be recalled that this is not the first time that a deadline has been set for the end of insurgency in the country. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, gave a similar deadline shortly after his appointment in January when he said that terrorism would end in the country by April 2014. Although, the statement was later clarified by the Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, to be a motivational speech to spur commanders to restore peace in the North-East, which is the hotbed of insurgency in the country, Nigerians will hold the government accountable for the latest deadline. The problem of insurgency demands a pragmatic programme of action, with clear and realistic timelines, to rout the insurgents. It needs much more than motivational speeches, and we expect our security agencies to design and implement a workable plan that can bring this insurgency to its knees by the December target date.
Without any debate, the security of lives and property of the citizenry is the primary function of any government. It is the main reason that governments exist. Section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) states unequivocally that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”
Therefore, it is the responsibility of President Goodluck Jonathan, the governors of the 36 states, and chairmen of 774 councils in the Federation, to ensure the security and welfare of all Nigerians. Security should not be seen as an exclusive preserve of the Federal Government, simply because it controls the security agencies. States and local governments should play vital roles in ensuring the security of their domain. They can do this by cooperating with, and supporting the security agencies. In fact, security is now the duty of all Nigerians. It is no longer that of the security agencies alone. The citizens should be security conscious and willing to volunteer information to the security agencies to help them succeed in their work.
Opposition politicians who have a penchant for blaming the presidency and the ruling party for security lapses in the face of the mounting insurgency in some parts of the country are not helping matters. The blame game between the two leading political parties is counter-productive and uncalled for. To end insurgency by the December deadline given by the Council of State, all hands must be on deck and security should be taken as the responsibility of all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, religion or party affiliation.
President Jonathan must do everything possible to end this insurgency so that Nigerians can feel safe in all parts of the country. that all Nigerians are free to live in any part of the country of their choice.
The festering discriminatory practices in some states of the federation, such as registration and deportation of non-indigenes, discriminatory school fees for indigenes and non-indigenes in state-owned institutions, and discrimination in the recruitment of non-indigenes into states’ civil services should be outlawed. The federal and state governments should work in concert to end the divisive tendencies that impinge on the nation’s unity. This matter should not stop at the level of mere recommendation. Let there be the political will, and a legal stamp, to outlaw these unhealthy practices. We commend the states where such discriminatory practices do not exist and urge others to emulate their good example.
Let all Nigerians cooperate with the federal government in this last ditch effort to end the Boko Haram insurgency in the country by volunteering vital information to security agents. Without the cooperation of all Nigerians, the December deadline on terrorism will be a mirage.
